Mature Privacy Trees That Thrive Near Lake Michigan (Wilmette • Winnetka • Glencoe)

Top Mature Evergreen Privacy Trees for Wilmette, Winnetka, and Glencoe

Techny Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Techny’)

Techny Arborvitae is a North Shore staple for a reason. It maintains rich green color in winter, holds up to wind better than many arborvitae, and forms a solid, formal wall when planted as a hedge. Expect 12 to 18 feet tall at maturity, with a width of 5 to 8 feet. For a tight screen, Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery often spaces 3 to 5 feet on center depending on starting size. It tolerates clay soils when drainage is improved, and it is a reliable pick along Lake Michigan for long-term privacy.

Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja ‘Green Giant’)

For faster growth and a taller ultimate height, Green Giant is a strong choice. It can reach 25 to 40 feet tall with a broad, lush profile. It is better in wind than many arborvitae and is often less preferred by deer than common American arborvitae, though browsing can still occur. Use Green Giant in larger properties or along back lot lines where you can allow 8 to 12 feet of width. In Illinois, it benefits from regular watering during the first two seasons and thoughtful pruning to keep a uniform face.

American Arborvitae ‘Nigra’ and ‘Mission’

If winter color is a priority, cultivars like ‘Nigra’ and ‘Mission’ hold deep green foliage through cold snaps and bright sun. They are excellent for narrow side yards and as accents flanking patios or pool areas. These cultivars are denser than typical American arborvitae and form a neat, formal look with light annual trimming. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery installs them in matched rows to create a polished, estate-style hedge.

Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika)

Serbian Spruce blends elegance with resilience. Its two-toned needles shimmer dark green and silver, and it tolerates urban soils better than many spruces. It handles wind off the lake and keeps a naturally narrow silhouette, typically 12 to 25 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide, making it a refined choice for side and rear lot lines. Use Serbian Spruce when you want height without excessive width or when you prefer a softer, less formal look than arborvitae.

Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

Norway Spruce is a workhorse for tough sites. Strong branching, notable wind resistance, and relatively quick growth for a spruce make it a dependable screen on larger properties. It can exceed 40 feet tall with age and 15 to 20 feet wide, so plan spacing accordingly. If you need a long, deep screen against a busy roadway or to cut wind on a corner lot, Norway Spruce provides structure and year-round coverage.

Black Hills Spruce (Picea glauca var. densata)

Black Hills Spruce offers a dense, symmetrical form and excellent cold hardiness, which is ideal for lakefront winters. It is slower growing than Norway Spruce but forms an attractive, tight screen that rarely needs pruning. Expect 15 to 25 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide. It is a top pick for homeowners who want an evergreen wall that remains uniform without much shaping.

Eastern Red Cedar and Cultivars (Juniperus virginiana)

Native Eastern Red Cedar thrives in full sun and tolerates drought and salt, making it a smart option for windswept exposures. Birds love the berries and use the tree for nesting, adding wildlife value to your yard. Columnar selections like ‘Taylor’ give you height in a slim profile, while ‘Canaertii’ offers a broader, textured look. Junipers are excellent mixed into a hedgerow for biodiversity and year-round interest.

Yew Hedges (Taxus x media)

For part shade or filtered sun, yew hedges excel. They are versatile, respond well to pruning, and can be maintained from 6 to 12 feet tall depending on the cultivar. Yews pair beautifully with formal architecture and are great for screening patios. Note that deer may browse yews, so protection is recommended in vulnerable areas. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery often uses yews as a second layer behind taller evergreens to build depth.

Broadleaf Evergreens for Protected Spots

Meserve hollies and certain boxwoods can contribute seasonal color and density in sheltered courtyards away from strong wind. They are not primary lakefront windbreaks, but they fill gaps in mixed screens and add glossy foliage. Think of them as supporting players that enrich the overall hedge, especially near entries and outdoor rooms.

Deciduous Privacy Trees That Work on the North Shore

Columnar Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ or ‘Frans Fontaine’)

When evergreen width is limited, columnar hornbeam delivers height and structure without taking over the yard. In leaf, it forms a green wall. In winter, the tight branching still provides a measure of privacy. Hornbeam is well suited to formal designs and handles pruning to maintain width. It is excellent along property lines where a fence-height screen is needed but local rules limit solid fencing.

Regal Prince Oak (Quercus x warei ‘Long’)

Regal Prince offers the strength of an oak in a narrow, upright form. It tolerates urban soils and compaction better than many trees and stands up well to wind. While it is not evergreen, its dense branching and persistent leaves into early winter enhance privacy. Consider mixing a row of Regal Prince with evergreens for a layered, four-season solution.

Columnar Beech Selections

Columnar beeches such as ‘Dawyck’ forms bring stately presence in sheltered inland locations. They need well-drained soil and some protection from the strongest winds, but they deliver exceptional vertical screening in elegant landscapes. Their smooth bark and tight habit complement modern and traditional homes alike.

Smart Planting Strategies for Lake Michigan Homes

• Stagger rows for depth. A double row planted in a zigzag pattern creates a thicker, more natural wall than a single straight line.
• Mix species. Combining arborvitae with spruces or junipers increases resilience against pests and weather extremes.
• Mind spacing. Give each tree its mature width so branches do not crowd, which improves airflow and reduces disease risk.
• Improve drainage. Many North Shore soils are heavy. Raised berms, amended backfill, and proper grading help evergreens thrive.
• Shelter sensitive plants. Use wind-tolerant species on the outer edge and place more tender plants in the lee.
• Check local ordinances. Wilmette, Winnetka, and Glencoe may have visibility and setback rules near driveways and corners.
• Plan irrigation. Drip or soaker systems help new installations establish evenly without runoff.

Mature Tree Sizes We Install

Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery specializes in planting mature privacy trees so your landscape looks finished on day one. Typical evergreen sizes range from 6 to 14 feet tall for arborvitae and 8 to 16 feet for spruce and juniper, depending on availability. Deciduous screening trees are offered in 2.5 to 6 inch caliper. Our team selects field-grown, locally acclimated trees from our nursery grounds to ensure they match the soils and climate of the Illinois North Shore. The result is a fuller hedge with fewer gaps and a more immediate impact.

What Makes Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery Different

Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery has served Chicagoland since 1966, when Paul Kjeldbjerg founded the company soon after emigrating from Denmark. From a single truck and a basement office to expansive nursery fields in Long Grove and Wadsworth, we have grown with a simple promise: put plant quality first and stand behind the work. Today, the Kjeldbjerg family leads a team of designers, horticulturists, and installation crews who understand the realities of planting near Lake Michigan. Our clients trust us for honest recommendations, careful sourcing, and clean, professional installations.

Our Lakefront Planting Process

1. On-site consultation. We assess wind exposure, sunlight, soil, drainage, and existing structures to determine the best plan.
2. Soil review and grading. When needed, we test or evaluate soils and recommend drainage improvements or berming.
3. Design and species selection. Your designer proposes a layout with proven privacy trees illinois homeowners rely on, tailored to your lot and style.
4. Nursery walk-through. See and tag trees at Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery so you know exactly what will be installed.
5. Scheduling and utility locates. We coordinate timing and call in locates before digging.
6. Expert installation. Our crews handle careful transport, correct depth planting, backfilling, and root zone watering.
7. Finish and protection. We add mulch, set up watering guidance or irrigation, and recommend staking or deer guards if needed.
8. Follow-up support. Our team checks in and offers seasonal care tips to ensure strong establishment.

Care Guide for New Privacy Trees

• Watering. For the first 8 to 12 weeks, water deeply 2 to 3 times per week depending on weather. In hot, windy periods, add an extra soak. In fall, water until the ground freezes.
• Mulch. Maintain a 2 to 3 inch mulch layer over the root zone, pulling mulch back from the trunk to prevent rot.
• Pruning. Lightly shear arborvitae in late spring to maintain a flat face. Remove dead or crossing branches on spruces as needed.
• Fertilizing. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring if recommended after a soil review. Avoid late-season nitrogen.
• Winter care. Consider an anti-desiccant spray in late fall for arborvitae in exposed sites and brush heavy snow off branches.
• Deer and rabbit protection. Install guards or netting if wildlife pressure is present. Choose less palatable species for outer rows.
• Pest watch. Monitor for bagworms on arborvitae and needle cast on susceptible spruces. Early detection keeps hedges healthy.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Planting too deep, overwatering heavy clay, and spacing trees too tightly are common mistakes that shorten a hedge’s lifespan. Another frequent issue is selecting species that do not suit lakefront wind or local disease pressure. For example, Colorado blue spruce often struggles on the Illinois North Shore due to needle cast diseases. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery helps you avoid these problems with proper species choice, site preparation, and long-term care planning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Privacy Trees in Illinois

How long until I have full privacy?

With mature sizes, many homeowners see strong screening the day of installation. For tight, seamless coverage, expect 1 to 3 growing seasons as trees knit together. Faster growers like Green Giant fill in more quickly, while spruces take a steadier pace.

When is the best time to plant?

Spring and early fall are ideal in our region, but with proper care, summer installations can succeed. Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery times planting around weather and soil conditions to reduce stress on trees and boost establishment.

Will these trees handle wind and salt near the lake?

Yes, when the right species and layout are chosen. We prioritize wind-tough options and plan rows to shield more sensitive plants. Improved drainage and proper mulching further increase resilience.

Do I need irrigation?

Irrigation is not mandatory but strongly recommended for the first two seasons, especially on sunny, windy sites. Drip lines or soaker hoses provide consistent moisture without waste. We can design and install simple systems that make watering easy.

Are there local rules I should know about?

Wilmette, Winnetka, and Glencoe may have guidelines for sightlines near driveways and corners, as well as fence and hedge heights. We help you plan a compliant layout and can coordinate with village requirements when needed.

Why Local Experience Matters

Every block along the lake has its quirks. A yard in east Glencoe may feel windier than one just a few streets inland. Soil pockets in Wilmette might drain differently after a new build. With decades of experience and our own nursery fields, Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery understands these micro-differences. We match trees to each property’s sun, soil, and exposure, which is the key to long-term success for privacy trees illinois homeowners depend on.

Project Ideas for North Shore Privacy

• Formal hedge with Techny Arborvitae. Clean lines for classic homes, trimmed annually for a crisp look.
• Layered windbreak. Outer row of Norway Spruce with an inner row of yews to soften noise and add depth.
• Narrow side-yard screen. Serbian Spruce or ‘Nigra’ arborvitae where width is limited but height is needed.
• Mixed naturalized border. Junipers interplanted with Black Hills Spruce for a wildlife-friendly, low-maintenance screen.
• Courtyard privacy. Yews and hollies in protected spaces to shield patios without overwhelming the garden.

About Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery

Founded in 1966 by Paul, known as Poul, Kjeldbjerg, Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery began as a small, family-run operation and has grown into a trusted local resource for design, plant selection, and installation. After years working with one of the area’s original landscape contractors, Poul launched his own business and later established nursery grounds in Long Grove. The company expanded to Wadsworth in 1999 and continues to grow outstanding trees suited for Chicagoland. With two generations now involved, our commitment to craftsmanship and customer care remains the same.

Ready to Plant? Get a Quote Today

If you are planning a living privacy screen in Wilmette, Winnetka, or Glencoe, our team is ready to help. We will visit your site, recommend the best privacy trees illinois has to offer for your exact conditions, and install mature sizes for instant impact. Contact Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery to schedule your consultation, tour our nursery, and reserve your trees. Transform your backyard with a beautiful, durable evergreen screen and enjoy the privacy you deserve. Schedule your planting today.